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Hospitals in France are offering money to expectant mothers if they are willing to give up smoking while being pregnant, which will hopefully lead to a smoke free life as a mother.

The new study, carried out by Paris's public hospital system in association with the National Cancer Institute, will test whether financial incentives will encourage them to stay away from tobacco throughout pregnancy.

The mothers-to-be that show dedication to give up their addiction will be rewarded in €20 vouchers and if they do not start smoking again they can receive up to €300 in total.

Women who are over 18 years old, are less than 4 months pregnant, smoke more then five manufactured cigarettes or three rolled cigarettes each day can participate in the study.

The participants are subject to frequent testing to make sure they are not using e-cigarettes or other tobacco products as these are prohibited.

French health minister Marisol Touraine said France was "the European country where pregnant women smoke the most".

This statement came after figures revealed that in 2015 one in five French women did not give up smoking during pregnancy.

Smoking during pregnancy can harm your unborn baby as it can reduce oxygen supply to the foetus, which causes their heart to beat harder. This increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.